Thailand Government Implements Three Measures to Control E-cigarette Spread

Key points:

The Thai government has announced three major measures and will evaluate their effectiveness within 30 days before developing a long-term plan.

There are three main strategies being implemented to combat the issue of illicit e-cigarette sales: strengthening border customs enforcement to crack down on illegal imports and strictly regulate domestic sales; raising awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes through schools and communities; and evaluating relevant laws and increasing enforcement efforts.

According to a report by Mgronline on February 27th, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has directed the Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, Jiraporn Sinthuprai, to announce three measures to regulate e-cigarettes in order to address the harm they pose to children and teenagers.

The first phase is the emergency phase. This phase requires a crackdown on the import of e-cigarettes, especially in border areas. The customs department will be the main agency responsible for enforcing the law more strictly. If illegal imports are detected, they will not hesitate to take legal action and hand them over to investigative police and anti-money laundering offices for asset seizure. Domestic sales by retailers will also face tough enforcement, as the government will work closely with relevant agencies such as the national police, the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), and the Ministry of the Interior. Additionally, the public is encouraged to provide a platform for reporting, so that everyone can see the e-cigarette sales situation in each region. Regarding online sales, as young people are increasingly exposed to e-cigarettes, TikTok has been requested to cooperate in strict monitoring. Subsequently, joint discussions will be held with platform operators and transportation operators to monitor and find ways to prevent online sales.

In the second phase, the public awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes, especially in school environments, will be raised through publicity. The Ministry of Education will collaborate with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), the Department of Public Relations, and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to promote knowledge about the dangers of e-cigarettes to students, teachers, and parents.

The third phase of measures involves conducting an assessment of relevant laws to enhance punishment and enforcement efficiency in the future. The Thai National Police have pledged to take immediate action and impose appropriate penalties if law enforcement officials are found to be involved in illegal activities related to e-cigarettes.

The Thai government announced today that it will begin a comprehensive crackdown on e-cigarettes, and will evaluate the effectiveness of the measures within 30 days. Various relevant agencies will reconvene to develop a plan, and will report back to the Prime Minister on the progress and plans for long-term measures in one week.